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Mark Stiles' Secret
DY 1\IAItY \ EL/ION 1'J1lLIl'8.
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I.
NEJ cold winter's evening two men
O were talking earnestly In a prlvato
room bolonglng to a certain rcstau-
rant Just oft Soho.
It was _ not a very reputable place , but
that wall precisely the reason why I"erlll-
nand 1I0rley chose It. Its owner was not a
mun oC great relJutatlon , nor above lending
his aid In II trllusactlon that lIIany honest
lIIen would have turn d their baelcs upon.
"Now , you have only to do your part , "
observed l'erdlnand 1I0rll'Y , who possessed n
long , thin Cnce , wealc eye8 , nnd a general
shlCtiness oC manner.
"I bellevo I have thought oC everything.
Dut , tor ( ; 00dne58' salce , Iceep Clara out ot
the way , Stiles. Any wllnes ! ! would ruin
th . whole thing. AmI my cousin Julian Is
an IJnpresslonablo sort at Collow-a vorl-
tnblo Cool , you IIIlght say. I only want him
to quarrel with me , do you lIe01 I'll provldo
cause enough , trust me. Dut any woman
mixed up In the bUlllnes8 would 8poll the
whole concern. "
Mark Stiles n 01111 cd , ns ho curled hi' !
care Cully waxed moustnehe.
Ills cllont was pay RIg hllll a stlft
prlco tor 'hls IIhnro In thlt IIIntter- hat Is ,
IC It was success Cui. And the prleo wall
qulto large enough to justify his closing his
reHlnurnnl to the general pUblic tor ono
day. Whut mattered It It ho ehoso to glvo
his employees Iholiliay and superintend
. the dinner at jUllt two guests with his own
hands1 True , there wns his daughter
Clnra : but ho eoul Hellli her to spend the
evening wllh some n lghbor8.
"I'll see to every tiling , 1\lr. \ Harley : you
lIIay trust me. Nothing shall InterCere with
. your plnns. "
. \ nd , nnnlyzl'd , they seemed slmplo
enourh , snvorlng ot hospllnllty and a wish
to do honour to his young cousin Jullnn ,
who had just uceeeded to the Camlly estate -
tate In Suffolk nt the death oC his Cather.
l erdlnnnd 1I0rll'Y was his IIrst cousin , nnd
In the event oC sueh n contingency hnppen-
Ing-nnmelY , thnt .Iullnn should dlo without
heirs-tho ostnto would pnRs to himself.
'I erdlnand , being 1man "about town , "
not rich , but tnlrly comfortable In clrcutn-
Ktnnceflo WilY anxlouR that his couRln should
not Rpel1l1 a 100\IIy tlmo .any longer In bls
11no but gloomy old mnnslon not tar from
Colchester. So ho wrote him a pressing
Invltntlon.
"COIIIO up nnd sharI ! my bacbolor's lono-
IInesH , old chap , and we'll have a tow
plcaRant days together. "
I'erhnps 1'erdlnu.1I1 Horley Celt he wanted
something 'plensant In his lite Just at
prcpent ; tor to eontelllpln1o bills thnt ho
could , not llay al1l1 wrltR that ho could not
( 'vade wns an'thln ! ; but. a cheering pros-
pect. 1I1 ! nrgued to hlmselt thnt I1e was
uncommonly hardly used. Here was a
young tellow oC three-und-twenty , who hnd
uover known a moment's care , acter II.
brlct but brilliant career at school nnd college -
lege , IHuldenly' tUlllbllng Into a position at
case mid plenty tor the remainder ot his
II Co ; whllo here wns he , hllllseU , just on
the ver o oC bnnlcruptcy , living Crom hnnd
to mouth , dependent on the mercy at his
tormenting creditors. Wh ) ' they hnd been
110 long suCCerlng ho hnnlly Imow , except ,
porhapR , It might be on nccount at the
little fiction ho Invented ot .lullnn'lI exce&- !
lugly Crall Rtate at health , which mlS t
rcsult In sudden 00llnp80 nt any moment.
But In tlmo thnt would do 110 good. His
position was really despornte. Then , nCter
n 10llg e\'elling's thlnldng. a new light had
gleumed In hl8 eycs , not a pleasnnt one , nnd
ho got up hastily , found lIen alld papel' , nnd
wrote arC to his cousin.
The result ot the letter was sntlRCnetory.
Jullun would willingly exchange the gloomy
, Rurroundlngs ot his ancestral home , where
he Imew RO tew CrlendR , tor the delights ot
gny London.
But he dill not mention to his cousin
there was yet another Inducement tor his
acceptance. Mrs. Molyneux , his nenrest
nehhbour In the district , waK to" be In
town , and l edore , her daughter , nccom-
pun led her. } , 'erdlnulIIl Horley was deeply
In love with Fedore , hnvlng mcj her several
times nt his uncle's house In Southam. Dut
Jullnn hud won her heurt.
"You nro going to town , to0111 she said
In ber sweet , winning mall11er , when he
apprised her oC his Intention. . "How delightful -
lightful , I will see that mother Rends you
a card for my hlrthdny bnll. It Is on the
2Gth oC Janunry. And , oC cour8e , wo must
' 11Ot torget your cousin.Ir. : . Harley , ns . you
will be sta'lng with him. " .
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THIS BEAUTIFUL WATCH
F REE
I DO NOT WANT YOUR MONEY
I want every boy in the land to own one of
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One of them can be yours for a few minutes
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pictures , size IG x 20 , to sell at 25 cents each.
When sold , send mo the money collected and I
will forward the watch , nIl charges prepaid , the
same day your money is received.
No trouble to sell my pictures as they are
lithographed in many colors and sell on sight.
As soon us I get' your name , I will lay aside one
of these watches so you will be sure to get it.
Send your name and address today. Address
W. E. Robbins , Mgr. , 338 Wabash Ave.
Open Face , Stem Wind and Set. Dept. 2002. Chicago , 111.
want Men and Wonen In every State to se1l our Pupular
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_ xo fn CLOC. not'c. . . .u. .fU'.O fO LOO. Ino" 1'U .o 1011 u. 1011 u. uncuo"
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This was said demurely , wUh eyes n lIttlo-
downcast. Fedoro was 1beautICul girl ,
gICted with r.trong Intultlvo power. She
knew a good lIIan trom a bad one. And
Iho never liked nor trusted Ferdinand Hor-
ley. His Caco haunted her with Its weak ,
shUty expression and eyes hat IIever looked
qullo Ftralght at. . her.
All the travelers elected to reach London
on the snme day , alld chose the snllle train
by which to travel , It was 1I0t an unlikely
thing but that the young tellow would
eschew the sl11oklllgarrlago and beg permission -
mission to scat hlwsell III the compartment
with Mrs. MolyneUx and her pretty daugh-
ter. So whcn the terminus wns renchod a'
very unpleasant surprlso was In store tor
Ferdlnunll lIorley , and ono that made him
clench his hands Cor a second and gnash his
teeth with rage. For no sooaer did the
train elllpty Itselt oC Its pasRcngers than
Ferellnnnd perceived his cousin Julian with
two Indies In tow-ono elderly , the other
the pretty I edoro , whom . ho had fong secretly -
cretly worshipped.
Now , what on earth were they doing In
London 1 And why must they choose this
Vl'ry time , when he most wanted hlR cousin
'
nil to hltnselt 1 It seemed , nfter all , as IC a'
woman was going to complicate things.
Yet 110 was thoroughly master oC hlm-
Ielt III a moment , and advanced with smilIng -
Ing tnce to greet the arrivals.
"Whnt a charming lIurprlse ) " he snld , as
he shook hnnds with the ladles. "Julian ,
you humbug ) I 'Ienow now why you were
nnxlous to exehango a country exlstenco for
a town ono ) "
lie lookell longlllgly Into''Fedoro's beau-
tlCul Cnre , with Its piquant exprclslou. Ho
had never Reen her look so supremely hnp-
IIY. And there wns a little lingering over
the Carewells between the yoqng people that
male him teel downright savnge. The
broughnm was waiting Cor 1\lrs. \ Molyneux
and her duughter. Dut Jullnn Insisted on
Reelng them Into It.
"n"membor , wo expect you on the 2Gth I"
aho said. Then she waved her hand , und
the ladles dro\'e away.
\\Then they were gene Jullnll snw to his
own luggage , and when I.'erdlnand was seated -
ed with him In the hnn80m ho turned to
him nnd wrung his hand In gratitude.
"Good old chnp to ask lI1e up ! " he said
rapturously , "I'm gOlIg ) to have a rattling -
tling good time , too ) The l\Iolyneuxs- "
He stopped short. There wns a look upon -
on his cousin's tac he did not understand.
'
It waR almost scornful.
"I say , .lullan , hold on ! You've come up
to sta ) ' with me , haven't you 1 Dut you
seemed to be making arrangement without -
out IIny reCerenle to that. "
"Oh. It's ollly Cor Thursday. the 2Gth.
: \Irs. 1\lol'neux \ hns ask'tus \ both. They
havc a kld's party on , and I promlsed- "
"Oh , well , we won't quarrel ov r that ) "
exclaimed his cousin pleasantly. " "We'll
dlno together quietly , you and I ; nnd then
wo'll put ln an appear an co lit the Itld's
party. "
No more was snld , but Julian saw enough
In the Ccw minutes he had spent In his
cousin's compan to know that something
nlled Ferdinand. Perhaps the poor chap
was hard up. lIe must et him to con-
lido In him. Perhaps ho could do something -
thing tor him. It was deuced hard lines to
be hard up , especially when one was not
used to It.
II.
Clnra Stiles was surprised beyond mens-
uro when she was told there would be no
work for her that evening. She scarcely
credited her Cather when ho InCormed her
the restaurant would be closed to the pUblic
all day. Only two visitors would dine there
In the evening , and they were Mr , l erdl-
nand Horley and his cousin , Mr. Jullnn.
Clnra pursed up her lips ominously. She
hnted Mr. Ferdlnund lIorley. He had tried
to trille with her ; once he had met her
upon the stairs In a dark corner , nnd had
even dared to Itlss her. She had wiped
nway the Insult with as sound a box upon
the car ns the sltunt10n allowed. Dut the
matter rankled In hcr mind. Years ngo ,
her Cather had been butler and valet to 1\r. \
Fl'rdlnnnd's uncle. She supposed : \Ir. Julian
WIIS the heir ; but what sort ot a man ho
could bo to bo on Crlendly terms with his
cousin Ferdinand she could only guess nt.
She wns sorry Cor him. It he were a nlco
younl : tollow ; It not , It did not matter.
Permission was given to Clnm to pny her
trlends a visit thnt evening , but It was a
permission ot which she was not able to
avail herselt : Cor 1\ terrible headache at-
tackln her , she was only able to 110 down
tlpon ber smull bed [ n'tho room ever the
lUning IIpnrtment , and Cor a long time she
lost all consciousness.
She did not know thnt her Cnther with
his own hands laid the IIttlo tnble for
dinner Cor the two guestH , drawing It Into
the cosy corner sheltered by a largo Coldlng
screen trom the rest at theroom. .
Here , with a brIght IIro burning. the
flames lighting up the ruddy tint at the
good old claret put to warm by the Cender ,
the wax cllndles sending a sott , mellow
light upon the sl1vl'r and 1I0wers decorating
the dlnnet'-table , wns a veritable paradise
when the wind was bitterly cold outside ,
and snow already beginning to tall.
So thought Julian 1I0rley when ho
stepped Into It In company with his cousin
Ferdinand. The latter wns paler than usual ,
nnd seemed a trille nervous.
"It's an out-ot-the-wny plnce , 0111 tel- .
low , " ho snld In npology , as they were comIng -
Ing nlon In the hnnsom. "Dut you remember -
member Stiles 1 lIe'A startell the restaurant -
rant , and Cor the sake oC old times I glvo
him n turn when I cnn. Anyhow , It's
better thnn anythlnl : myoid landlady could
do Cor us. " ,
Julian , with his heart In a rapturous
tumult when ho rememberell the delight. In
store tor him-Cor they hnll promised to bo
at Grosvenor Square by nine-was In a ,
humour to bo pleased with anything.
And the pretty tublo 1111011 him with n -
mlrntlon. .
"Acter all , thero's nothing IIko an English -
lish winter , " he said. "When I think oC all
abroad traveling In search
the ) 'ears I spent
oC pleasure. as I called It , why , It strikes
mo I left the best part at It behind In the
old country , "
\I
And his-thoughts new back tp _ t.ho tllr (
taco he loved so. All Ufo while ho had been
abroad she had been growlna : up Into the
sweet , charming girl he now tound her.110
was glad ho had not wasted lonler tlmo
abroad.
"Next year , old chap , wo'll dlno together
at Southam Hall. nut. . I'm glnd , to keep
you company tonhht , " he remarked , as they
sat down to dine.
Jullnn not torgettlng to greet MarlC
StllM with a pleasant , trank smile.
"WhY ; Mark , you look younger than
ever' "
TO' which Mark bowod. lI had been In
good servlco , and knew exactly how , to be-
hllve blmselt.
"It's the same to ) 'OU , sir , 1 'm thinking , "
he Ruld. "But wo don't any at us grow
younger. "
Then the dinner was brought In , and very
excellent It was. But Julian noticed how
IIttlo I erdlnand ate , alsQ thnt ho seemed to
grow more and more moody ns the COUrsl'S
succeeded each other. Whnt had COIIIO t
him Julian scarcely knew , but he grew trac-
tlOUR and peevish , then downright qunrrel-
Rome. Once or twice Julian hnd to bltl' hl'J
lips to prevent n hnst ) . answer which might
have provoked Curther strICe.
And he .wns drinking a great deal or
wine , that be noticed all'o , his fa co gettln ! ;
redder and redder all the dinner Ilrogre sl'll.
Jullnn heartily wished It over , but thcre
was dessert to bo got through ) 'et. It enl ) "
he could hold his tongue and not repl ) ' to -1
his cousin's Insulting remarks nil might ) 'el - '
bo well. At last callie the climax. With an. , : ;
Insidious smile , Ferdinand made Bome dls- .
l1araglng I'emark about Fl'doreIo'neux. : ) .
"I SUPIIORO the old \Vomnn wants to trnp "
you 1" ho said coarsely. "Sho tried tor mo , 'Ii ,
till you succeeded to the estate. Now , oC . . " . .
course , you are the bigger IIsh to Innd.
Thnt's why she' Collowed you up here , I
suppose , amI brought the pretty I edoro to
baIt her hook with. " -
A scornCul Inugh Collowed the words.
Julian , stung beyond endurance , threv
down his knUo and Cork , and sat up
square ) ) ' .
"What do ) 'ou mean by that , Ferdinand ?
Apologize this moment , It ) 'ou do not wish
, me to leave the table and your society. "
"Ferdinand chuckled l wardly. Ills scheme
was succecdlng beyond his hopes. .
'
"I IIhan't apologize ! " he said , with II.
growl. " 1 mean every word I said. They're .
II pnlr o ( them-mother and daughter.
You'ro not the first man they've angled Cor.
I'll wnger. You're an enslly gulled Cool ,
and the ) ' now It. "
The next Instant a - pair of strong hands
were at his throat.
"Unsay those -words , " said Julian In his
ear. "Unsay them , or I'll throttle you ! "
The two closed together like a couple oC
maniacs. Dut Julian had the advantage. He
was at talln stature , and moro mUBular ,
make. Or It might be th t his cousin allowed -
lowed him the ad'antage. His blood was
up. l.'erdlnnnd had openly Insulted the
gIrl ho loved , and her mother also.
Dut he did not know the cunning sub-
terCuge with which he was surrounded.
Atter vainly endeavoring to throw him ,
.Tullan saw his advantage , and with a quick
movement dashed his ndversary back. With
a heavy crash he tell , his heud coming In
contact with the shnrp edge of the tender.
There he lay , prone nnd motionless , a strenk
at blood making ItRVa ) ' down his tace , and
strenmlng on to his Immaculate shirt front.
This wns the signal. In rushed Mark
Stiles , nngry and Indignant at his room
being turned , as ho expressed It , Into "pot-
house and brawling tavern. "
"You'vo done It now , 1\Ir. \ Julian ! " ho ex-
claimed. "Dy jove , but you'vo killed him ! "
Whlto as a statue the young man .
leaned ever the prostrate body.
lIe plnced his hand upon the heart.
There was not the faintest movement. The
wounded man's jaw seemed to drop , his
helld rolled bnck upon the 1I00r. his eyes .
wont up till nothing but the whites were
visible.
The two men IItared nt eaeh ether , dismay
nplmrently upon the fnce oC both.
"My soul ! What shall I do 1" burst at. ,
length Crom Julian's trembling lips. lIe
was Ehaklng Crom . head to toot IIko an
a8pen leat.
"Dolt ! Now I This very Instnnt-wblle the
coast Is clear ! Do out of England beCoro
the alarm Is. raised. 'Tis your only
. . . ,
saCet-
"Dut you'll swenr It was only an accident -
dent 1" gasped the nwestruck Julian. "JIo
taunted mo beYond endurance. I hnd to
close with him to avenge the Insult- . .
Stiles shrugged his shoulders aud pointed
to the bOdy.
"Whnt'll the police believe oC that , Mr ,
Jullnn 1 You know as well as I do. H
you don't. . want to pass the night In a pollce-
cell-It you don't want to hang by the
nl'ck tor murder , bolt and quickly. I'll
swear you shall have tlmo enough tor
thnt- "
thntDetoro
Detoro ho could rench the door his way
was bnrred. . ,
A girl with dark hair and palo cheeks
pressed Into the room.
"Fathor , father ! what means all this
nolse1 Ah. ah ! " IIho shrieked In terror at.
the sight she saw.
Her faUler , vexed beyolIIl lIIensuro at. .
hr ! entrance , could not. . hldo the state ot the
'
"A quarrel , Clara. Out at the way
there ! Stand back , and let the , murderer
get oft clear.- . " . -
It was an awtul word-It was an awCul
momnt. Fnco to tuce with the young. man
did Clara stnnd. And his Ceaturcs were
burnt Into lrer memory with a touch quite
Indelible. There was the contraeted brow ,
the working oC the lips , the look oC horror
and Crenzy In the halt-opened mouth.
In spite at all , her woman's pity rose.
She left the room quickly , following him
IInd was just In time to stay him at the
door.
( Collt lIUd all/age u )
Page Eight
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